On Saturday, April 26, 2014, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff took part in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The event allowed people to rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. 455 pounds of prescription drugs were collected by the Sheriff’s Office in just four hours.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), prescription drugs that languish in medicine cabinets create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high. Almost twice as many Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, and inhalants combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
According to the DEA, in Northern California there were 207 collection sites, hosted by 139 law enforcement agencies and a record-breaking collection of approximately 20 tons of unwanted, unused, and expired medications.
As a bonus, this disposal collection was also converted into energy through Covanta Energy, Crows Landing, California. The safe and secure collection and disposal of these medications not only saves lives, but protects the environment and ecosystem.
Information provided by Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office
